Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 42
Chapter 78 — पवित्रारोहणकथनं
Pavitrārohaṇa: Installing the Sanctifying Thread/Garland
अगुरुं निरृताशायां वायव्यां च चतुःसमं होमद्रव्याणि सर्वाणि सद्योजातैः कुशैः सह
aguruṃ nirṛtāśāyāṃ vāyavyāṃ ca catuḥsamaṃ homadravyāṇi sarvāṇi sadyojātaiḥ kuśaiḥ saha
L’agaru (bois aromatique) doit être placé dans la direction de Nirṛti (sud‑ouest) ; et dans la direction de Vāyu (nord‑ouest) on place une mesure quadruple égale. Tous les matériaux destinés au homa (offrande au feu) doivent être disposés/manipulés avec de la kuśa fraîche, en lien avec Sadyajāta (mantra/aspect).
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Directional staging of homa-dravya with specified substances (agaru) and measures, integrating kuśa and the Sadyajāta mantra/aspect for correct consecration and handling.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nairṛta–Vāyavya placement of agaru and homa-dravya with Sadyajāta-kuśa","lookup_keywords":["agaru","nairṛta dik","vāyavya dik","homa-dravya","sadyajāta"],"quick_summary":"Place agaru in the southwest and a fourfold equal measure in the northwest; arrange all homa materials together with fresh kuśa connected to Sadyajāta for mantra-linked ritual handling."}
Concept: Mantra and material are co-functional: dravya-vinyāsa gains efficacy through mantra-nyāsa (here, Sadyajāta linkage) and disciplined measure (māna).
Application: Maintain consistent measures and mantra-association when preparing homa items; treat kuśa as a consecrating interface for handling and placement.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Homa-dravya & Dik-nirnaya: directional placement in fire-rituals)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fire-altar setup with directional markers; agaru placed at the southwest corner; a measured fourfold portion set at the northwest; fresh kuśa bundles laid with the homa materials, indicating mantra linkage to Sadyajāta.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized homa-kuṇḍa with bold outlines, priest placing agaru in southwest and measured portion in northwest, kuśa bundles glowing green, subtle mantra glyph motif for Sadyajāta, warm ochres and reds","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted homa vessels and ladles, agaru pieces rendered richly, directional corners ornamented, kuśa with green enamel-like texture, sacred fire central with gold aura","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional plate, clear corner labels SW (Nairṛta) and NW (Vāyavya), measured heaps shown as neat piles, kuśa bundles tied, calm palette and precise linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly ritual pavilion, attendants holding incense-wood (agaru) and kuśa, meticulous depiction of measured portions, fire-altar in center, architectural geometry emphasizing directions"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"focused","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nirṛtāśāyām = nirṛta-āśāyām (tatpuruṣa); no further obligatory sandhi splits.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 78 (homa-dravya, dik-nirṇaya, pañcabrahma usage); Agni Purana mantra-vidhi portions on Śiva-pañcabrahma (Sadyajāta etc.) within ritual chapters
FAQs
It gives a practical homa-vidhi rule: specific homa substances (notably agaru) are assigned to particular directions (Nirṛti/SW and Vāyu/NW) with a stated proportional measure, and the handling/arrangement is to be done with fresh kuśa grass linked with the Sadyajāta mantra-aspect.
Beyond theology, it preserves procedural ritual technology—directional mapping (dik-nirṇaya), measured quantities, and mantra-associations (Sadyajāta)—showing the text’s catalog-like coverage of applied liturgy alongside other sciences.
Correct directional placement and mantra-linked handling of homa materials is taught as a means to ensure ritual purity, avert inauspicious influences associated with quarters like Nirṛti, and secure the intended merit (puṇya) and efficacy (siddhi) of the oblation.